Fastening assembly

Abstract

A fastening assembly is provided for securing structural parts at least one of which has an externally exposed appearance surface. Mounting bosses protruding from the wall of the appearance surface have a longitudinally extending cavity formed therein which is substantially parallel to the exposed surface and is located a distance from the surface approximately equal to the thickness of the wall. The cavity may be configured to receive a screw, or, alternatively, a separate screw receiving passageway may be located tangential to or independent of the cavity for securing the parts together.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fastening assembly comprising first and second abutting structural members, said first member including a wall section of predetermined thickness and having at least one exposed surface; a mounting boss formed integrally with said wall section and extending from the opposite side of said exposed surfaces; said boss having a longitudinally extending cavity formed therein generally parallel to said exposed surface, said cavity disposed a distance from said exposed surface such that the thickness of the wall section centrally of said boss substantially equals the predetermined wall thickness; said boss further having a screw-receiving passageway formed therein independent of said cavity; and a screw positioned in said passageway securing said first and second structural members together. 
     
     
       2. The fastening assembly of claim 1 wherein said passageway and said cavity are formed so as to intersect circumferentially thereof. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said cavity is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said cavity is generally triangular. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said cavity is generally arcuate. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said cavity is generally circular. 
     
     
       7. A fastening assembly comprising first and second structural members, said first member having at least one exposed surface; a mounting boss formed integrally with said first member and extending from the opposite side of said exposed surface; said boss having an asymetrical opening formed therein; said opening having a substantially cylindrical portion for receiving a screw therein and a longitudinally extending portion generally parallel to and intermediate of said cylindrical portion and said exposed surface, said longitudinal portion intersecting said cylindrical portion circumferentially thereof; and a screw positioned in said cylindrical portion securing said first and second structural members together. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the distance between said exposed surface of said structural member and the longitudinally extending surface of said longitudinal portion proximate said exposed surface is substantially equal to the thickness of said structural member. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the threads of the screw are circumferentially larger than the cylindrical portion of said opening, with at least a portion of said threads extending into said longitudinal portion of said opening at the intersection of said cylindrical and longitudinal portions. 
     
     
       10. A method of assembling two or more structural members, wherein at least one of said members is fabricated from plastic and having a wall section with an exposed appearance surface, comprising the steps of forming said wall section with one or more bosses protruding from the back side of said exposed surface; reducing the mass of said boss members by forming a cavity having a surface spaced from said exposed surface of said wall section a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said wall section; preparing the cavity for receiving a fastening device; and securing said wall section to another of said structural members by inserting a fastener device into said cavity. 
     
     
       11. The method of assembly of claim 10 including the additiinal step of forming a screw-receiving passageway in said bosses separate from said cavity and securing said wall section to another of said structural members by inserting a fastener device into said passageway. 
     
     
       12. A method of assembling two or more structural members, one of said members having at least one plastic wall section having an exposed appearance surface comprising the steps of forming said wall section with one or more mounting bosses protruding from the back side of said exposed surface; minimizing the change in wall thickness where the boss is integral with the wall section by preparing the bosses with asymetrical openings therein; said openings having (a) central portions which are adapted to receive fastening devices therein, and (b) boss-relief portions radiating from and tangential to said central portions such that the thickness of the wall sections on a plane generally perpendicular to the wall sections and passing through the axis of said central portions is substantially equal to the thickness of the wall section remote from said bosses; and securing said wall section to another of said structural members by inserting fastener devices into said central portions.